KUALA LUMPUR — In recent years, Malaysian bowling has risen to become one of the world’s best. However, the contribution of head coach Ben Heng often goes unnoticed.
His philosophy and behind-the-scenes efforts have played a key role in Malaysia’s success.
On Tuesday, national elite bowler Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win on the Professional Bowlers’ Association (PBA) Tour.
He claimed victory in the Chameleon Championship in Reno, Nevada, defeating American Kevin McCune 269-227 in the TV final at the National Bowling Stadium.
The victory saw the former world champion and International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Cup winner add another feather to his cap.
Tun Hakim’s World Cup-winning teammates have also made their mark on the Tour.
Rafiq Ismail finished runner-up at the Scorpion Championship earlier this week, while Timmy Tan secured fourth place in the Pete Weber Missouri Classic last month.
Meanwhile, another member of the quartet, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, exited in the round of 16 at the Shark Championship on Wednesday.
Speaking to Scoop today, Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok credited the rise of Malaysia’s bowlers to Ben, who took over as head coach in 2023, succeeding long-serving stalwart Holloway Cheah.
“Under Ben Heng, the team keeps making history, one achievement after another,” said Maradona, while also citing last year’s overall title win at the Asian Championships in Bangkok.
“Personally, I think a lot of this success is down to Ben’s approach. He gives the bowlers plenty of freedom. While there were concerns about complacency and other potential issues, the team has shown they can be trusted.
“Together with the other coaches, Wendy Chai and Gerald Samuel, Ben has created an environment where the bowlers are flourishing. It’s like once we cut the strings, they start to fly,” he added.
Maradona acknowledged Holloway’s legacy, noting that Ben has built on his mentor’s system and refined it further.
“Both coaches were successful but had very different methods.
“Holloway was Ben’s mentor, and they worked together for many years. If anything, Ben has taken Holloway’s system and improved it.
“Just as younger bowlers gain confidence from their seniors’ success, Ben has also learned from Holloway to become a better coach,” said Maradona.
Malaysia’s national bowlers have continued to excel on the global stage.
In January, reigning world champion Natasha Roslan won the women’s singles title at the IBF World Cup, while Sin Li Jane claimed a record four titles on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour last year.
She also became the first Asian bowler to win the PWBA Player of the Year award.
As professional tour expenses are borne by the players themselves, Maradona confirmed that Sin Li Jane and Esther Cheah will return to the United States from May to August to compete in the full PWBA season.
For the rest of the national squad, this year’s major events include the World Championships and the Bangkok SEA Games in December. — March 20, 2025